Chapter 9: Eggs-it, Stage Route
The journey toward Blackthorn City continued for the ponies. They entered a small village with small Pokémon running around a backyard of a house. "So I wonder where we are now?" Applejack wondered. Twilight brought out the Nav to see their new spot.
"According to the navigator, we're in Eggseter," she informed. "And now the puns start." Except for Fluttershy who stopped while the other two stepped ahead. Twilight didn't see Fluttershy from the corner of her eye and quickly stopped to turn and find her staring down at a middle-aged couple carrying eggs from a coop to the house. "Hey, Fluttershy!" Twilight's shout alerted the pink-haired girl to turn back to her friends. Learning what she did so abruptly, she felt a little shameful.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's just..." She peered back down at the couple, seemingly enjoying the eggs as they cleaned them of any dirt. "Are those humans removing the Pokémon from the coop?" To Fluttershy, the two were interrupting the balance of nature. There wasn't any proof to refute her claim.
"I'm sure those humans are taking great care of those eggs," Applejack assured. Fluttershy didn't bite.
"A-Are you sure?" To find the answer, Twilight came up with a way to settle her "Pegasus" friend.
"Why don't we pay them a visit?" she suggested. "We'll learn more about them and Eggseter." The thought could help calm Fluttershy. They made their way in town and knocked on the door where the woman that was cleaning an egg answered.
"Yes?" the brunette woman called. "Can I help you?" Twilight stepped up to reply.
"We saw you with some eggs you picked up from the coop in your backyard." Knowing what she brought up, the brunette giggled.
"I know what this is about. You're worried that I'm harming the Pokémon Eggs that are given to us?" She must have been asked this a lot for her to come up with that comforting reply. "Come in. I'll show you what we do." Accepting, the ponies entered the woman's home. The house contained little Pokémon playing with each other while eggs decorated the shelves in makeshift nests. "This house is a Daycare Center where we help raise Pokémon while their trainers attend to their many businesses. Sometimes the trainer's Pokémon will lay eggs and mostly, we make sure they're treated well." The ponies awed the effort that the woman worked well on.
"So Pokémon reproduce like humans do, right?" compared Applejack.
"In a sense, though baby Pokémon and human babies are born in completely different methods." With this explanation, Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief.
"For a while, I believed you did something completely harsh to those eggs," she admitted. "Sorry about thinking that way." The woman smiled, not minding the mistake.
"You're forgiven, dear." A few baby Pokémon came in to see who was here. There was a teddy bear cub with a crescent moon above an eye, a blue bulb with grass as hair and blue oval-shaped chick with clouds for wings. "Meet some of the Pokémon that hatched recently." The ponies knelt down to meet the newborns where Twilight got her Dex.
"Teddiursa, the Little Bear Pokémon," it computed. "The paws become sweet after soaking it in honey, which Teddiursa licks." Next was the bulb. "Oddish, the Weed Pokémon. Oddish spreads seeds wherever it walks." Now came the chick. "Swablu, the Cotton Bird Pokémon. Swablu has a habit of sitting on heads of humans. Because it's light, Swablu tends to act like a hat." The description sent Twilight's mind back to Goldenrod City and their encounter with Professor Birch.
"This is Altaria before Altaria?!" she gasped. The reaction got Fluttershy to summon Altaria and the primary and evolved Pokémon glared at each other. Swablu instantly got frightened and flew on Twilight's head to hide.
("One day, you'll look like me, child,") Altaria promised. Swablu didn't believe its evolved form.
"I didn't know you have an Altaria!" the woman awed. Fluttershy smiled toward the woman.
"Professor Birch gave Altaria to me," she explained. That's when someone joined the women: the woman's husband.
"Is everything okay, dear?" he wondered. Viewing the other guests with the babies, the husband seemed content with the scene. "Well, looks like we've got some breeders in the making. I'm Mr. Shelby." The ponies stood up to greet the husband.
"Hi, Mr. Shelby," spoke the purple-haired. "I'm Twilight Sparkle. My friends are on a journey to Blackthorn City to meet Clair." Shelby gasped a little by the name.
"Would one of your friends be Fluttershy that I heard from the radio?" The wife turned to the named pony trying to help Swablu and Altaria get along.
"I'm... Fluttershy," the pink-haired confessed. Applejack sighed, now regretting the decision of having Fluttershy on the radio with DJ Mary.
"I'm starting to think everyone will be asking if they want Fluttershy to communicate with the Pokémon now that the cat's outta the bag," the blond groaned. The couple backed off from further torture to the Pegasus.
"Please forgive us," Mrs. Shelby apologized. "When we heard you on the radio, we felt rather related in regards to understanding Pokémon that I would have offered you and your friends a Pokémon egg." The ponies sighed to the real story about the connection.
"No foolin'?" cheered Applejack as she gazed at a shelf of eggs with Pokéball stickers on them. She dashed over and picked on up, no weight to it. This surprised and upset her. "Hold your horses! Is this some kind of joke?" The husband stood up to explain the ordeal with the paperweight eggs.
"Those aren't Pokémon Eggs," he clarified. "They're dummy eggs. We use those to fool thieves who would sell them to the black market and they're used in the Extreme Pokémon Race. The race is what makes Eggseter stand out in Johto." Multiple uses for bogus eggs...
"You hold a race in Eggseter?" Twilight asked.
"Yes! The race starts and ends at the grand stands while the midway point is here. Pokémon and their trainers choose however they reach here and back while on skateboards. Of course, not too long ago, we had one that went down to a photo finish between two trainers from Pallet Town." Fluttershy's eyes lit up at the town's name. Then, Mr. Shelby showed a photo of the Start/Finish line with Ash in a light blue jacket being dragged by Bayleef while racing a brunette in a purple sweatshirt being dragged by a giant orange dog with some pretty cool stripes. The bottom held the caption.
ASH KETCHUM AND BAYLEEF WIN IN A PHOTO FINISH AGAINST GARY OAK AND ARCANINE.
"Seeing this, I'm shocked Rainbow doesn't have any interests to Ash," Twilight joked before using her Dex on the Arcanine in the photo.
"Arcanine, the Legendary Pokémon and the evolved form or Growlithe," it computed once more. "While fierce and brave through loyalty, Arcanine is one of the fastest Pokémon in existence." To Fluttershy, Ash was an underdog against Gary in that race.
"From Dex, Ash's Bayleef shouldn't stand a chance against Arcanine," she studied.
"That's what I thought as well," Mr. Shelby acknowledged. "But I believe Gary's Arcanine wasn't at full strength after being attacked by Team Rocket." A theory as to how Ash beat Gary in the race. Suddenly, Twilight thought back to the other boy, the one named Gary Oak.
"Is Gary Oak related to Professor Oak like he's the son?" she guessed.
"Grandson, actually." The connection between the professor and the brunette now had proof. "Anyway, the Pokémon Eggs are back in the coop." Following Mr. Shelby, the ponies entered the backyard and toward the coop. Three eggs stood up in nests. One egg had different hues of brown from light to heavy. One egg was light pink with a spot of dark brown on top. The last egg had shades of yellow with a black lightning bolt across the middle. "Here they are. They were delivered a few days ago and I want to give one to you since you've influenced us to help further bond with the newborn Pokémon." So only one egg between the three of them. Fluttershy had the solution to the problem.
"Twilight, why not be the one to take a Pokémon Egg?" she offered. Twilight blinked to the suggestion.
"Are you sure, Fluttershy?" she wondered. Instead of Fluttershy answering, Applejack spoke for her.
"Think of it like raising Spike back in Canterlot," she compared. "Sure it can't breathe magic fire but you've done an exceptional job with him." Fluttershy bobbed to Applejack's theory.
"I guess you're right. Sure, it's not like Spike but who knows how much fun it will be with something like a baby Pokémon." Twilight faced the three eggs. That's when she made her choice. "Mr. Shelby, I want that egg." Which egg did she point to? The brown egg. Mr. Shelby smiled at Twilight's decision.
"Then that egg is yours," he accepted. "Excuse me while I grab the necessary equipment." As Mr. Shelby left to find the gear for the egg, Mrs. Shelby gave the chosen egg to Twilight as a first hold.
"Do you know what Pokémon is in the egg?" Applejack questioned.
"Not really," the wife shrugged. "Just because the egg has the same color scheme to it, doesn't mean the egg will have the same Pokémon. For example, that pink egg could hatch a Cleffa or an Igglybuff. That yellow egg could produce a Pichu or an Elekid. The world of Pokémon is so mysterious but enjoyable regardless." The ponies could dream of what would birth from the egg. It could be a Pokémon Ash has.
"I only wonder how they even come out of their shell?" dreamed Twilight. "Maybe we can call Ash and ask him. I bet he's had at least one egg hatch on him." Agreeing, the ponies got on the phone, Delia on the other side.
"Fluttershy, I thought you might call," she noticed. "I bet you wanna know where Ash is at the moment. He just called a little while ago from May's latest contest."
"Thanks, Mrs. Ketchum," Fluttershy praised. "By the way, do you know about Pokémon Eggs and how they hatch?"
"Not me, personally. Just a mom who gave birth to Ash a long time ago, birthing Pokémon is far from my experience. Humans being born and Pokémon hatching are two different things." That's when her memory clicked. "I know! Misty told me about her Togepi hatching. Why not call her? She's back home in the Cerulean Gym." Someone who has seen a Pokémon hatch...
"Toga... what?" Applejack shuddered. Fluttershy brought out her Dex again for the Pokémon Delia named. On the screen was a spotted egg with a head shaped like a crown, stubby arms and tiny feet.
"Togepi, the Spike Ball Pokémon," it relayed. "Togepi spreads joy to those with pure hearts." The ponies got giddy at Togepi's appearance.
"So cute!" they cheered with gleeful smiles. Spooked, Delia jerked her head back nervously.
"Would you please not do that when on the phone?" she advised. Now the ponies jumped at the warning from the mother.
"Sorry, Mrs. Ketchum," Twilight apologized. "The reason we brought up hatching Pokémon is that we got a Pokémon Egg from the Shelby couple in Eggseter." The name of the village brought back more memories to Delia.
"Then you're nearby Ecruteak City. When you get there, head northeast. That should get you towards Blackthorn City." Looks like their next city awaited the trio from Equestria.
"Thanks for the directions and who to call up," Fluttershy acknowledged.
"No problem. Please try to stay out of trouble, if only for my son's sake."
"We will," Applejack promised. After hanging up, Fluttershy dialed new numbers.
"I hope I don't call the wrong Pokémon Gym," she hoped. Dial tones buzzed over the phone when.
"Cerulean City Gym, this is Daisy," a young woman answered.
"Hello, is Misty there?"
"Yeah, you're just in time. She just got back from shopping. Misty, you got a call!"
"Who is it?!" shouted a voice. The monitor turned on to a young blond woman with a redhead and violet-haired girl entering the room. The redhead turned to see the ponies but easily recognized the pink-haired. She got handed the receiver and put it toward her head. "Fluttershy, what a surprise! What's been going on?" The Pegasus' smile spoke the words necessary.
"Just trying to get over my fear of dragons so I decided to see Clair in Blackthorn City."
"I see." Then she saw Twilight's new egg, a clue to where they were calling from. "I think I can take a guess on advice for hatching Pokémon Eggs, right?" Even Applejack stood in a bit of shock.
"Sharp as a tack, you are," she complimented. "So how about a few pointers?"
"Sure. You need to make sure the egg is warm and secured. When it starts flashing, that's an indicator to you that the Pokémon's about to be born." Just a few tips but the ponies got the hint.
"You'll be my second child being born," Twilight whispered. "Sure, I doubt you'll be like Spike but regardless, I'll take good care of you." Applejack and Fluttershy looked on, anticipation to the new Pokémon in her arms.
"Much appreciated, Mist," thanked Applejack. "Twi's egg should bring something fresh to our journey." Learning their names when they first stopped by Pallet Town, Misty wondered about the rest of the Mane Six.
"So it's just you three?" she thought. "What about Rainbow, Pinkie and Rarity? They're back in Ponyville?"
"Yes, we thought we three were plenty enough," Fluttershy informed.
"Gotcha. No need to have everyone... Ahem, every pony on the go with you." The ponies laugh at Misty's attempt to correct herself.
"Misty, it's okay for you to say everyone," Twilight forgave. "You're not originally a pony like the three of us."
"Yeah, I guess so." Stepping in, Mr. Shelby brought a glass container and pillow rest.
"Twilight?" he called out. Seeing the husband, the pony readied the egg for travel. "It's common for trainers to carry Pokémon Eggs in these capsules. I wish you three the best of luck on your way to Blackthorn City." The three nodded to Mr. Shelby's wishes.
"The Pokémon Egg's in good hands, Mr. Shelby," Misty allowed. "I've got a lot of faith with these three." While taking the praise to heart, Mr. Shelby's face read amused to seeing Misty.
"I want to believe you, Misty." He and Twilight loaded the egg in the capsule and one of Twilight's empty Pokéballs was put in the slot on top. "All set. Please raise the Pokémon to your best."
"I will, Mr. Shelby," Twilight promised. With that and recalling Altaria, Fluttershy said farewell to Misty and with the Pokémon Egg, the three left the Shelby's home. However, the ponies chose to hang around Eggseter a little longer. They watched trainers and different Pokémon raced around the hills of the village on skateboards. They pulled off jumps and tight turns around.
"This is a sport Rainbow could get behind," Applejack pointed out.
"Right, being the fastest pony in Equestria... but she would need a Pokémon to help out like an Arcanine." Sucks to have half of the formula needed to enter the Extreme Pokémon race. Without warning...
"Look out!" a trainer yelled. The ponies turned to see a charging Tauros with a black collar headed their way.
"Looks like I gotta hoof up!" Applejack grunted as she stood to face the stampeding bull. BAM! The Tauros barreled in Applejack's arms, carrying her in its horns.
"Applejack!" Twilight and Fluttershy cried in fear. Applejack shook herself loose and stomped her feet, the soles digging through the dirt to gain friction. Tauros, blinded by Applejack's arms, pushed on but the blond somehow hoisted the Wild Bull Pokémon off its hooves.
"Okay, Tauros! Heel!" Finally, Tauros stopped struggling which Applejack lowered it, falling on bent knees. It still whimpered and Applejack petted the poor beast as her friends and a silver-haired boy reached the two.
"Are you okay, Applejack?" Fluttershy concernedly wondered. To show how fit she was after that fiasco, Applejack flexed her muscles.
"Nothing like a good Tauros Take Down to show how strong you are." She resumed her petting to quell Tauros. "It'll be okay, big fella." The silver-haired boy pulled a blue berry to Tauros' snout which it snacked on.
"This Oran Berry should help you after that moment," he comforted. "I'm sorry about that. Things were going smoothly between me and Tauros when a Weedle came out of nowhere and struck my Pokémon with a Poison Needle. Looks like Tauros is okay, no poison." Before long, Tauros steadily stood back up.
"Looks like Tauros recovered. Take it easy and just lie down the next time you get a stick in ya." Tauros bowed before joining the boy in working out again.
"Rainbow's got nothing when it comes to the beef of the matter," Twilight joked. "You would've done a better job with the buffaloes near Appleloosa." Applejack crossed her arms with a grin on her face.
"Ain't that a fact!" Suddenly, a Pikachu ran up to the scene. Pikachu had a tuff of hair sticking out from the forehead.
("Are you okay?") it squeaked. Fluttershy's heart skipped at the sound. All three turned to see the Pikachu in question.
"It can't be!" Twilight gasped. The Pikachu looked up, confused at the purple-haired girl's gawk.
"If that's who I think it is, didn't Mrs. Ketchum say he's over at another contest?" Applejack recalled. The Pikachu sighed, something being amiss.
("So that's it,") the Electric Mouse Pokémon squeaked lowly. ("They're friends with Ash and his Pikachu.") Fluttershy suddenly started thinking again after hearing this Pikachu, realizing that this wasn't Ash's. She knelt to the Pikachu with curiousness.
"Are you another trained Pikachu?" Fluttershy asked.
("I am, but not by Ash. Though I don't blame you if you think Ritchie looks like him.") If only Fluttershy could imagine how.
"Ritchie?" The name left the other ponies scratching their heads.
"Sparky!" a young man called out. The Pikachu turned to the voice and ran to a brunette boy in a green t-shirt and pants while also donning a blue cap with a yellow front. Fluttershy blinked, thinking it was indeed Ash.
"Am I seeing things or does he look awfully a lot like Ash?" gulped Applejack.
"No, I see the comparison," Twilight bobbed. The new boy sighed at the sudden remark.
"I get it," he groaned. "Ash and I look almost like twins. There's no need to rub more salt on me." The boy back with his Pikachu, Sparky, approached the ponies with curiosity. "Sparky and I saw how you were able to tame that runaway Tauros. Where did you learn how to do that? Professor Oak's Ranch with Ash's herd?" Applejack nervously combed her hair with her fingers as if it wasn't a big deal.
"Sorta," she balked. "But I've been herding a lot over the time back home. I guess you could say it's a talent of mine." The boy believed Applejack's words.
"I guess so. Though, I doubt you'd have the same luck with a charging Rhyhorn. I'm Ritchie, by the way." The ponies introduced themselves to the new brunette and explained their journey. "Funny. We're on our way toward Ecruteak City ourselves on a delivery run." Ritchie brought forth a package. Inside was a large bell made out of a blue crystal. "Morty, the Gym Leader in Ecruteak City who specializes in Ghost Pokémon, told me about how Team Rocket stole the Crystal Bells from Tin Tower and one shattering by Jessie's hands which caused Bug and Grass Pokémon to attack anyone within vicinity of the remaining bells."
"So this bell is a replacement to the Crystal Bell that I doubt Princess Celestia or even Discord could repair, huh?" guessed Twilight. Ritchie looked confused with Twilight's theory.
"Who?" Realizing what she just said, Twilight wove off her words.
"No! Forget it!" All she did after that was wallow in almost giving away secrets of their home. 'That was so close...' While Twilight hid her face, the other ponies grew interests to the Crystal Bell's origin.
"I'd like to know about where the Crystal Bell came from," Fluttershy requested.
"Sure, if you tell me how you got names like Twilight Sparkle," he returned. The ponies shuttered in the thought of exposing themselves as non-human.
"I guess that's a fair trade," Applejack accepted. So now with Ritchie and Sparky, plus Twilight's new Pokémon Egg, the journey heads to Ecruteak City and the Tin Tower. They're on their way to Blackthorn City one step at a time.
TO BE CONTINUED...